31 Ideas from Job Seekers... to Have a Better Job Search in 2018

Go directly to companies and make contact, even if they’re not hiring.

1. “I am going to defy my fears and reach out to companies I admire who may not have any current job openings.”

2. “Contact companies whether hiring or not, send a copy of my resume, along with an introduction letter. In the letter, I describe and tell the company what I am looking for and what type of skills and education I have obtained over the years. Explain with examples of what I have to offer. Doesn’t hurt to try and make contacts through various types of companies. By showing a company initiative and interest in their values or missions of what they stand for can also give off a good impression.”

3. “I have a target list of companies that I’m watching for a new position.”

Change your mind set to have more confidence and focus.

4. “Improve and improve every day until I achieve my set goals.”

5. “I need to learn more about what keywords companies in my field are looking for. I also need to be more diligent in my search and dedicate time to pursuing my new position.”

6. “The first thing I need to do to improve my job search is to be brave. I have a tremendous amount of fear after being out of the job market for a few years now. I know I am intelligent, I couldn’t have gotten the education I have without being so. I have experience of 14 years doing the job I am trained to do. I just need to step forward. One shaky step at a time.”

7. “One thing that I changed was looking into more job sectors to see if my skills could be applied elsewhere.”

Up your game by writing better cover letters and practicing interview answers.

8. “I am getting a bit more aggressive in my cover letters to companies in January.”

9. “I need to practice my answers to the most common and important questions like, ‘Tell me about yourself,’ and ‘What are your passions?’ I resolve to make 2018 a great year!”

Do more self-study to learn what you really want and need in a job.

10. “Getting clear about what conditions I need in order to be successful, including salary, location, commute, and travel requirements. I also need to be more proactive in my job search by refining my notifications and checking job postings more frequently.”

11. “To make my job search better this time (compared to the last few years), I realize I need to just isolate myself and really just take the time to get to know ‘me’ and what I really want. Not just ‘a job,’ but doing something that I want to do, enjoy doing, and that will make a difference.

12. "Assess my skills find about telecommuting opportunities that match my current skills, and update my computer skills to match the needs of the current market.”

Revamp your resume!

13. “I would first and foremost give my resume to a professional writer for either a review or writing so as to make it more appealing to employers when presented for either shortlisting or an interview.”

14. “To improve my job search this year, I’m going to improve my resume. Re-entering the workforce is difficult, and so I need to make sure that I no longer downplay the accomplishments I’ve had over the last 10 years. There’s a lot of great volunteer work I've never listed, even though they required skills that can translate into jobs.”

15. “I am taking more risks with my resume. I am being more forward about highlighting my education, training, and experience. I would also take the risk and apply for jobs that are not 100% in my comfort zone.

16. “Making sure I stand out for the right job to the right employers is a high priority for me in 2018. That is why I plan to update my resume, specifically leveraging the power of keywords. Too often I hear from recruiters that have reached out to me based solely on my job title, not on my experience or expertise—that’s on me!”

17. “I would change my resume so that it put more emphasis on the soft skills that I have developed over the years.”

Learn new skills or gain new credentials.

18. “I do plan on learning some new skills this year that would help me in any job search.”

19. “I would like to do more applying and less seeking. I am adding endorsements to my license and a new skill to my toolbox.”

20. “I will improve my job search by continuing to build and improve my tech skills online.”

21. “I am looking to gain some additional licensing or certification in another field for second income opportunities from my primary career.”

22. “I would like to take online courses to polish up my IT skills during my maternity leave. I really need to improve my performance by utilizing modern technology.”

23. “I could improve my job search by not getting discouraged about the job qualifications and trying to gain more experience that will look better on my resume.”

Create or update your online presence through blogging, portfolios, and more.

24. “My plan for 2018 to make my job better would be to find ways to make my blog more engaging for subscribers.”

25. “There is nothing better than a beautifully orchestrated website that says, ‘Here I am!’ Make yourself unforgettable. Promote your abilities, experiences, and interests in a way no potential employer will forget! A newsletter is a bonus! Do not get lost in the mountain of resumes that go unread!”

26. “I am creating an online portfolio. I wish there was a complete resource on the best way to do this for writers. So many jobs say that they do not want personally published work.

Try new tactics.

27. “I’ve already taken action on one idea: getting someone else to review my resume. That will be completed this month. My next action is to be more creative in my job search, such as considering different places and methods to do my job search.”

28. “Notify my personal network by social media that I am seeking other opportunities.”

29. “I will start creating my own network of possible clients by participating in public events to sell handmade products.”

30. “To help my job search in 2018, I will use a better process for follow-up reminders and also apply to jobs that are more senior.”

31. “I have a problem where I’ll spend a lot of time searching for the right job but not enough time actually APPLYING to those jobs. I get burnt out by the searching and put the applications off until later. And then the jobs expire and I’ve never actually applied. I’m going to stop doing that this year and block at least 30 minutes each day to actually apply!”